Having fun at a theme park without the kids

Leslie Streeter

Friday

Sep 30, 2011 at 12:01 AMSep 30, 2011 at 7:32 PM

Visiting a theme park with a small child can be a magical experience filled with wonderment and discovery. It can also be a very long day of crankiness, missed naps and the discovery of a deep hatred of the words "Again!" "No!" and "I don't wanna do that. It's stupid."

On the other hand, a day at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, sans kinder, can provide a different kind of grown-up, tantrum-free fun. And if you need to go and take a nap, you can. Because you drove. Here are five things that are more fun without kids:

Cheetah Hunt: Like most roller coasters, Busch Gardens' brand-new super-fast ride has a height requirement that restricts shorter visitors from riding. And unless one of the adults wants to take one for the team and hang out with the kid while everyone else experiences the coaster, meant to approximate the 0-to-cheetah acceleration of the real thing, it's a problem. But alone, feel free to stand in line as many times as you must (they move pretty fast), and even choose a seat right up front. You're an adult. You can handle it.Grown-up shows and special events: Entertainment shows not involving dancing Muppets (like the Elmo-centric A is For Africa show at the Sesame Street Safari of Fun's Sunny Days Theater) can be crazy boring for kids, unless they're exhausted and are kind enough to nap through them without tugging your arm every five minutes and whining "You promised we'd get on that ride RIGHT NOW!" But without them, you can sing along all you want to the retro sounds of the '70s-themed Dance to the Music and the excellent Rock-a-Doo-Wop, featuring the sounds of The Angels, The Drifters and a whole lot of Frankie Valli (think Jersey Boys and Girls). And the entertainingly creepy Howl-O-Scream, a seasonal zombie-filled labyrinth available select weekend nights until the end of October, is intended for adults, so it's probably better you don't tell them you're going.Animal exhibits: Getting as up close and personal as possible with the birds, cats and other amazing creatures at the park's 10 animal exhibits could be fun for younger visitors - or they could want to move on quickly, making it impossible to take a more leisurely stroll to stop and read the posted information about the animals. And, just like on the rides, you can't just let them wander off by themselves while you have fun. (You can't. We checked.) But alone, feel free to linger with the fast and furious cats of the new Cheetah Run, who lounge and run in their own habitat. Also, take your time staring at the gators, the majesty of the Serengeti Plain from the skyride, or, coming next year, the feeding of cute little baby furry things at the Animal Care Center.Shopping: Strolling through the various shops, including the funny/gross Howl-O-Scream shop and the menswear shop The Sahara Training Company, is more fun without someone tugging on your sleeve. (Note: If your spouse does this, they presumably have their own money with them, and it's not your problem).Eating: Who knows? You might want to have brunch or dinner with Elmo and friends even without your kids. That's your choice. (But if you have kids and don't take them, that's sort of mean.) You can also choose to dine (perhaps with an adult beverage) at the scenic Crown Colony Restaurant, the stage-adjacent Desert Grill, or the healthy Zagora Cafe.

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